The Kansas Board of Regents has approved a plan that will enable Wichita State University to partner with the YMCA and build a health and wellness center on campus.
The university says in a news release that its concept being developed with the Greater Wichita YMCA "would give students access to new opportunities for personal wellness, child care and more."
The plan calls for Wichita State students to pay a $95 health and wellness fee to help pay for the facility, The Wichita Eagle reports.
Existing student health services, along with counseling and testing services, would be expanded and consolidated in the facility.
Representatives of the Student Government Association, Wichita State staff and the YMCA will form an exploratory committee to study similar facilities in Kansas and nationally to compile the best ideas and provide recommendations for the proposed new facility.
Assuming Y board final approval of the partnership, fee-paying Wichita State students also will have access to the nine other Y branches throughout the Wichita metro area beginning with the 2017 fall semester.
The proposal is expected to be presented to the YMCA board of directors later this summer. If it is approved, detailed design, construction and Y fund-raising for the building are expected to take two to three years.
